Rahul Gandhi backs Donald Trump's 'Indian economy is dead' remark: 'US President has stated a fact'

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. (File photo)

After Donald Trump labelled India as a “dead economy”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the US President was right.

"Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact... The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. BJP has finished the economy to help Adani..." Gandhi told ANI.

Trump on Thursday launched a sharp attack on India and Russia describing both as "dead economies".

His remarks came hours after the he announced a new 25% tariff on India and an additional penalty for continuing strategic trade with Russia.

Gandhi also alleged that India's main issue is that the government has destroyed "our economic, defence and foreign policy". "The main question is, Trump has claimed 30-32 times that he did a ceasefire. He also said that 5 Indian jets have fallen. Trump now says that he will impose 25% tariffs. Why is PM Modi not able to give an answer? What is the actual reason? Who has the control in his hands," he said.

Earlier, in the day, former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram mocked PM Modi over latest tariff decision by US President Donald Trump.

In a post on X, Chidambaram called the 25 percent tariff  a "clear violation of the WTO rules". Taking a jibe at PM Modi, the Congress leader said, “'Dosti' is no substitute for diplomacy and painstaking negotiations.” Recalling PM Modi’s statement during his Washington visit earlier this year, Chidambaram asked, “ What happened to MIGA + MAGA = MEGA?”

The US President targeted former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for warning that Washington DC's "ultimatum game" with Russia could lead to war. "...and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he's still President, to watch his words. He's entering very dangerous territory," the US President said.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor termed the US-India trade deal  a "challenging negotiation". "We are negotiating with many countries. The US is not the only negotiation. We have ongoing negotiations with the EU, we already concluded a deal with the UK, and we are talking with other countries also. If we can't compete in America, we may have to diversify our markets outside of America. We are not out of options," he told ANI.

What does govt say?

“India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective," the Centre said in its statement.

Reiterating its priorities, the statement said the government attaches "the utmost importance" to protecting and promoting the welfare of farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs.